(EsPCEx - 2017)
Military operations in megacities
A linguistic perspective
The challenge of conducting future military operations within megacities (cities with populations over ten million) lies in understanding the dynamic and multidimensional complexities of these urban areas. Military operations in megacities, whether combat-oriented or otherwise, will be similar to those in other urban environments, but will be complicated by factors unique to the megacity environment.
First and foremost, megacities are largely multilingual. While this can be said of large cities in general, the scale of multilingualism in megacities magnifies its effects. For instance, in New York City (NYC) – a metropolitan megacity of over eighteen million people – nine foreign languages are spoken by communities of one hundred thousand or larger. Language also plays a role in determining one’s identity and the language community in which one decides to live. For example, the majority of Russian speakers in NYC tend to live in south Brooklyn and Staten Island, while Chinese speakers tend to cluster in Manhattan and Sunset Park. In megacities, language, culture, and regional context go hand in hand and often reach beyond ethnic identities.
In order to fully understand the context of a megacity, we must understand the role of the languages used in its communities. How _____(1) language communities interact in megacities? What tensions ______(2) caused by multiple language communities in urban space? What role ______(3) language play in the power structures (government or otherwise) of megacities?
Adapted from Military Review – Jan/Feb 2016
According to the text, choose the correct statement.
Urban environments are more complex than megacities.
Nine languages are spoken in large cities.
Language is of great concern to the military.
Ethnic identities are limited by regional context.
Military operations are just combat-oriented.
Gabarito:
Language is of great concern to the military.
A questão pede para assinalar, segundo o texto, a afirmativa correta.
A: Urban environments are more complex than megacities. = Ambientes urbanos são mais complexos do que megacidades.
Incorreto. Megacidades são ambientes urbanos de grande complexidade.
B: Nine languages are spoken in large cities. = Nove línguas são faladas nas grandes cidades.
Incorreto. "For instance, in New York City [...] nine foreign languages are spoken by communities of one hundred thousand or larger." Este trecho afirma que, na cidade de Nova York, são faladas nove línguas estrangeiras por comunidades de cem mil pessoas ou mais.
C: Language is of great concern to the military. = A linguagem é uma grande preocupação para os militares.
D: Ethnic identities are limited by regional context. = Identidades étnicas são limitadas pelo contexto regional.
Incorreto. "In megacities, language, culture, and regional context go hand in hand and often reach beyond ethnic identities." Neste trecho, argumenta-se que, nas megacidades, a língua, a cultura e o contexto regional andam juntos e frequentemente vão além das identidades étnicas.
E: Military operations are just combat-oriented. = As operações militares são orientadas apenas para o combate.
Incorreto. Nem sempre as operações militares são orientadas para o combate, segundo um trecho do primeiro parágrafo: "Military operations in megacities, whether combat-oriented or otherwise ..." (orientadas para o combate ou não [...]).